Sheffield says he's happy in Atlanta

Braves Notebook

ATLANTA - Just to set the record straight, Gary Sheffield is not complaining about his contract.

And, no, he's not terribly concerned about placing his belongings in storage after the season, either.

Sheffield, who was quoted in Tuesday's editions of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as saying, "I love where I am, but I'm not comfortable. The difference between the two is that when you're comfortable, you don't have to worry about where you're going to be next year. You don't have to worry about having the storage ready in September to move your family. I understand (the Braves') situation, but that doesn't mean I don't have a right to feel the way I do.

"Yeah, it does make it difficult to play. I can't go out here and put all my trust and loyalty into something when nobody has given loyalty to me. That's what I've learned."

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Sheffield, who is earning $11 million in the last year of a six-year, $60 million deal, said Tuesday that he is not unhappy about not having a contract past this year.

"I'm not complaining, there's nothing to complain about," he said. "Why would I sit here and talk about my contract? When the season is over, I'll have a contract, either here or somewhere else. I've got no complaints about anything."

Sheffield also cleared up a misconception about considering retirement following the trade. He labeled a conversation with former Falcons and Braves star Deion Sanders as "spiritual" and never harbored any serious thoughts about leaving the game.

"Once I talked to Deion for an hour straight, I relaxed and realized this is where I should be," Sheffield said. "It's the perfect situation for me."

Sheffield labeled the report in the AJC as ``mind-boggling."

"I go from praising the Braves to this situation," he said, shaking his head in bewilderment.

Maddux fixing problems

Greg Maddux goes to the mound tonight with ugly numbers. He's 1-3 with a 7.52 ERA in five starts, having allowed 39 hits, including seven home runs, and seven walks in 26 1/3 innings. The league is hitting .333 against him.

The four-time Cy Young winner, who has won at least 15 games every year since 1987, says the first step in correcting flaws in his delivery is studying videotape.

"You look for things that you're doing incorrectly, things you can't feel," he said. "When you can feel it, it's easy to correct. I credit (videotape) with a step in the right direction."

Next, Maddux tries to incorporate the correction into his delivery in the bullpen, with pitching coach Leo Mazzone observing. But he doesn't really know if he's been successful until he faces hitters.

"You don't concern yourself with wins and losses and outcomes of games, you concern yourself with making pitches," he said. "If you make pitches, the results will usually follow."

Fick on way back

First baseman Robert Fick, who received a cortisone shot Sunday in his sore right shoulder, says he could play today. He won't, but he will begin playing catch.

"I'm real happy I had that cortisone shot," he said. "I woke up this morning feeling great. I have no pain, zero. It's a big weight off my shoulders. I have a chance of a lifetime here and with one play I almost messed it up."

Fick suffered a strained right shoulder sliding headfirst into second base. He is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Monday. He has sworn off sliding headfirst.

Chipper in lineup

Chipper Jones, who also received a cortisone shot in his sore shoulder Sunday, returned to the lineup Tuesday. Like Fick, he said the drug cleared up the inflammation and he was able to lift his arm over his head with no pain.

Lopez feeling better

Javy Lopez may be able to rejoin the lineup Thursday or Friday. The catcher, who left last Saturday's game with a strained left hamstring, has shown improvement in his strength and range of motion.